Adjustable bin for transporting articles

ABSTRACT

An adjustable bin for transporting and storing articles is disclosed. The bin has a door pivotally mounted at its top end and slideable toward and away from the back wall of the bin and movable side members which move in cut outs formed in one side of the door to allow simultaneous reduction of the width and length of the bin. The door is also provided with locking pins to position the door in spaced relationship to the base for ease of unloading the bin when the bins are stacked.

United States Patent 1191 1111 3,863,799 Thomaswick et a1. Feb. 4, 1975ADJUSTABLE BIN FOR TRANSPORTING 2,907,487 10/1959 Harrington 220/8ARTICLES 3,147,860 9/1964 Kean et al 3,784,054 1/1974 Mautz Inventors:Ronald J- Thomaswick, g; 3,809,234 5/1974 Kurick 206/448 James R.Rowley, Freeport, both of Primary Examiner-Donald E. Watkins [73]Assignee: PPG Industries, Inc., Pittsburgh, Pa. Attorney, g or ma d CarlLepiane [22] Filed: June 20, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 371,911 [57] ABSTRACTAn adjustable b1n for transporting and stormg artlcles is disclosed. Thebin has a door pivotally mounted at [52] U.S. Cl 220/1.5, 220/22.3,220/84, its top end and slideable toward and away from the 206/448 backwall of the bin and movable side members which [51] a Cl B65d 57/00 4move in cut outs formed in one side of the door to [58] new of Searchallow simultaneous reduction of the width and length 220/22.3, 83, 84,206/477-483, 448, 449, 45 of the bin. The door is also provided withlocking pins to position the door in spaced relationship to the base[56] References C'ted for ease of unloading the bin when the bins areUNITED STATES PATENTS stacked.

2,726,095 12/1955 Emer 220/1.5 UX 2,840,257 6/1958 Zeniji 220/8 7 Clam,3 Drawmg Flgures Q5312)? 54 x l i 24 48 (a 2O 22 so 3748 s 4O 36 58 52-39 Li ADJUSTABLE BIN FOR TRANSPORTING ARTICLES BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to anadjustable bin having a pivotally and slideably mounted door for ease ofloading and unloading the bin, and movable side members which cooperatewith the door to simultaneously reduce the width and length of the bin.

2. Description of the Prior Art Sidelites of present day cars varyconsiderably in size and shape. This presents a storage and shippingproblem. Normally an automotive manufacture has to stock many sidelitesof varying sizes and shapes. In shipping sidelites, it is customary toload the bins with the same size and shape sidelites. At the point ofdestination, the sidelites are stored in the bin and used as needed.

This practice presents several problems. One problem is that the binsare not used to capacity and another problem is that large storage areasare required to store the bins. It would therefore be advantageous if abin were available that could be loaded with different size and shapedsidelites to reduce storage space while providing ease of access to thesidelites in the bins.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an improvedadjustable bin for transporting and storing articles. The bin includes afirst side wall, a second side wall and a back wall mounted to a base.The second side wall includes at least one rigid membermounted formovement toward and away from the first side wall. A door is pivotallyand slideably mounted between the first and second side wall formovement toward and away from the back wall. Facilities are provided foradjusting the length and width of the bin, e.g., adjusting the door inspaced relationship to the back wall and adjusting the at least onemember in spaced relationship to the first side wall. Facilities arealso provided to urge the door and the at least one member toward theback wall and first side wall, respectively.

By using the adjustable bin of this invention, articles such asautomotive sidelites or pieces of glass of varying size and shape may beloaded in the bin and the width and length of the bin reduced to preventmovement of the articles during shipping. At the point of destinationthe bins may be stacked on top of each other and the door positioned inspaced relationship to the base to provide access to the articles in thebin.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. I is an isometric view of the binof this invention loaded with various sizes and shapes of articles suchas automotive sidelites;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the bin showing the door in the raised positionleaning against the back wall for loading or unloadingthe bin; and

FIG. 3 is an end view of the bin with the door spaced from the base forunloading the bin when the bins are vertically stacked.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to FIG. 1, there isshown an adjustable bin for transporting and storing articles 11, suchas automotive sidelites, ei 'ii ploying the principles of thisinvention. The bin 10 includes a base 12, a back wall I4, and a pair ofside walls 16 and 17. The side wall 17 includes a pair of rigid membersI8 mounted for movement toward and away from the side wall 16. A door 20is pivotally and slideably mounted for movement toward and away from theback wall I4.

Mounted at one end of each member 18 is a headed stud 22 which rides ina slot 24 formed in the back wall 14. The other end of each member 18 ispivotally connected at 25 to one side of a hinge 36. The other side ofthe hinge is pivotally connected at 27 to a post 28 (shown better inFIGS. 2 and 3) to maintain the members I8 in spaced relationship to eachother and movable towards and away from the side wall 16 to reduce orincrease, respectively, the length of the bin 10.

The door 20 is provided at the top end of each side, as viewed in FIG.l, with a stud 30. Each stud 30 is positioned in one of a pair ofraceways 32 which extend away from the back wall 14 in generally spacedparallel relationship to the base 12 as shown in FIG. I so that the doormay be pivoted about its top edge and moved away from or toward the backwall 14.

The door 20 is further provided with a pair of cut outs 34 (shown betterin FIG. 2) at one side for receiving the movable members 18 as themembers 18 are moved toward side wall 16. With this arrangement, thedoor 20 in its closed position, as shown in FIG. I, can be moved alongthe raceways 32 toward the back wall 14 as the side members 18 are movedtoward the side wall 16 to simultaneously reduce the width and length ofthe bin, i.e., move the door 20 and members 18 into engagement with thearticles 11 loaded in the bin 10.

The bin 10 may be loaded with the door in the closed position as shownin FIG. I or by positioning the door 20 to rest on the top of the backwall 14 as shown in FIG. 2. The article 11, such as sidelites of thesame size and shape, may be loaded in tiers separated by rigid spacer37. Also, as shown in FIG. 1, some of the side lites of the same sizeand shape may be arranged with their surfaces facing the back wall intiers and separated by spacer 37 from sidelites of a different size andshape loaded with their surfaces facing the side wall 16. As can beappreciated, the invention is not limited to the loading arrangement ofthe articles in the bin.

After the bin is loaded, the door is moved to its closed position anddisplaced toward the back wall against the articles as the side members18 are moved toward the side wall 16 against the articles. In theinstance where the articles are frangible, e.g., automotive sidelites,it is recommended that a layer of resilient material be provided onevery surface of the bin facing inward, i.e., contacting the sidelites,to prevent damage to the sidelites. Further, the sidelites should beseparated from one another by an interleaf 39 (see FIG. 1) such asdimpled paper.

A restraining system is employed to maintain the members 18 and door 20against the articles to prevent movement of the articles in transit. Onesuch restraining system is shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. The restrainingsystem includes a pair of polyester straps 38 and 40. The strap 38 hasone end mounted to the outer wall of the stationary wall 16 in anyconventional manner and has its course passing through a slot 42 formedin the side wall 16 (see FIGS. 2 and 3), around the door 20 (see FIG. 1)and through one of a plurality of slots 44 formed in the members 18 (seeFIGS. 2 and 3) with the free end inserted in a buckle 46 connected to anend of the strap 40. The slots 42 and 44 are formed in the side wall 16and members 18, respectively, at a position spaced from theback wall 14such that the strap 38 continuously urges the door against the articleswhen the bin is loaded.

The strap 40 has one end mounted to the outer surface of the back wall14 in any conventional manner and has its course passing through a slot48 formed in the back wall (see FIG. I) and a slot 50 formed in themembers 18 (see FIGS. 2 and 3), with the other end of the strap 40connected to the buckle 46 such as catalog No. 702 sold by EasternRotorcraft Corporation. The length of the strap 40 is sufficient topermit movement of the members 18 away from the side wall 16.

During shipment or storage, the bins may be stacked on top of oneanother by providing each bin with male inserts 52 at the bottom of theposts 54 and 28 and holes 56 at the top of the posts for receiving themale inserts 54 of other bins.

In the stacked position, the bins may be unloaded by removing therestraining system, pivoting the door away from the articles and slidingthe door toward the back wall. The door is held in spaced relationshipto the base 12 by providing locking pins 58 at the bottom of the door asviewed in FIG. 1 which are inserted in the raceway 32as shown in FIG. 3.To prevent movement of the door when returning the bin, the door may bemaintained in the position shown in FIG. 3.

As can be appreciated, certain modifications can be made to the binwithout deviating from the scope of the invention. More particularly,less than or more than two movable rigid members 18 may be used.Further, side wall 16 may be replaced with movable rigid members such asrigid members 18. In this instance, the door 20 would be provided withcut outs at each side and the length of the bin reduced by displacingthe rigid members toward each other. I

What is claimed is:

1. In an adjustable bin for transporting or shipping articles whereinthe bin comprises a back wall, a first side wall and a second side wallmounted to a base, the improvement comprises:

at least one rigid member mounted at the second side wall for movementtoward and away from the first side wall;

a door pivotally and slideably mounted between the first and second sidewalls for movement toward and away from the back wall;

means for adjusting said at least one rigid member in spacedrelationship to the first wall to reduce or increase the length of thebin; and

means for adjusting said door in spaced relationship to the back wall toreduce or increase the width of the bin.

2. The adjustable bin as set forth in claim 1 further including:

means for urging said at least one rigid member and said door toward thefirst wall and back wall, respectively.

3. The adjustable bin as set forth in claim 1 further including:

means for simultaneously adjusting said at least one rigid member inspaced relationship to the first wall and said door toward or away fromthe back wall to reduce or increase the length or width of the bin,respectively.

4. The adjustable bin as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means foradjusting said at least one member includes:

said back wall having at least one slot formed therein, said at leastone slot extending from the second side wall to the first side wall;

a stud connected to one end of each of said at least one rigid memberand passing through at least one slot;

means mounted at the other end of each of said at least one rigid memberfor maintaining said at least one rigid member in spaced relationship tothe base while permitting said at least one rigid member to move towardor away from the second side wall.

5. The adjustable bin as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means foradjusting said door includes:

a stud mounted at each end of said door spaced from the base; and

a pair of raceways in spaced relationship to the base and extending awayfrom the back wall for receiving said stud mounted at each end of saiddoor wherein said studs move along said raceways as said door is movedtoward or away from said back wall. I

6. The adjustable bin as set forth in claim 5 including:

means for maintaining said door in spaced relationship to said base toprovide access to the bin.

7. The adjustable bin as set forth in claim 3 wherein said simultaneousadjustment means includes:

said door having at least one cutout formed at a side adjacent to saidat least one rigid member for receiving said at least one rigid memberas said door and said at least one rigid member are moved toward theback wall and the first wall, respectively.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No.3,863,799 Dated February 4, 1975 Inventor) Ronald J. Thomaswick & JamesR. Rowley It is certified that error appears in the above-identifiedpatent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 3., line 12, cancel "Description" and insert -Dis cussionbefore"of the Prior Art".

Column 1, line 15, cancel "manufacture" and insert --manufacturer-.

ii ned am? series? this 7th day of June 1975.

C. I-IARSIIALL DANDY PUT C. H5303 Commissioner of Patents AttestinOfficer and Trademarks FORM PO-105O (10 69) USCOMM-DC 60376-P69 w u.s.oovzmmswr rnnmua orncz 1 you o-sss-au.

1. In an adjustable bin for transporting or shipping articles whereinthe bin comprises a back wall, a first side wall and a second side wallmounted to a base, the improvement comprises: at least one rigid membermounted at the second side wall for movement toward and away from thefirst side wall; a door pivotally and slideably mounted between thefirst and second side walls for movement toward and away from the backwall; means for adjusting said at least one rigid member in spacedrelationship to the first wall to reduce or increase the length of thebin; and means for adjusting said door in spaced relationship to theback wall to reduce or increase the width of the bin.
 2. The adjustablebin as set forth in claim 1 further including: means for urging said atleast one rigid member and said door toward the first wall and backwall, respectively.
 3. The adjustable bin as set forth in claim 1further including: means for simultaneously adjusting said at least onerigid member in spaced relationship to the first wall and said doortoward or away from the back wall to reduce or increase the length orwidth of the bin, respectively.
 4. The adjustable bin as set forth inclaim 1 wherein said means for adjusting said at least one memberincludes: said back wall having at least one slot formed therein, saidat least one slot extending from the second side wall to the first sidewall; a stud connected to one end of each of said at least one rigidmember and passing through at least one slot; means mounted at the otherend of each of said at least one rigid member for maintaining said atleast one rigid member in spaced relationship to the base whilepermitting said at least one rigid member to move toward or away fromthe second side wall.
 5. The adjustable bin as set forth in claim 1wherein said means for adjusting said door includes: a stud mounted ateach end of said door spaced from the base; and a pair of raceways inspaced relationship to the base and extending away from the back wallfor receiving said stud mounted at each end of said door wherein saidstuds move along said raceways as said door is moved toward or away fromsaid back wall.
 6. The adjustable bIn as set forth in claim 5 including:means for maintaining said door in spaced relationship to said base toprovide access to the bin.
 7. The adjustable bin as set forth in claim 3wherein said simultaneous adjustment means includes: said door having atleast one cut out formed at a side adjacent to said at least one rigidmember for receiving said at least one rigid member as said door andsaid at least one rigid member are moved toward the back wall and thefirst wall, respectively.